For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 10, 2002

Director Ridge, Attorney General Ashcroft Discuss Threat Level
Remarks by the Attorney General and Governor Ridge
The Justice Department

1:35 P.M. EDT

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: (In progress) I want to express my
appreciation to Governor Tom Ridge, who is the Advisor to the President
for Homeland Security, for being here; and to the Director of the FBI,
Bob Mueller, for being here.

The United States government has concluded, based on analysis and
specific intelligence of possible attacks on U.S. interests overseas,
to call government, law enforcement, and citizens, both at home and
overseas, to a heightened state of alert.

After conferring with the Homeland Security Council, the
recommendation has been made to increase the national threat level,
currently classified at Elevated Risk, to High Risk. The President has
accepted this recommendation.

The U.S. intelligence community has received information, based on
debriefings of a senior al Qaeda operative, of possible terrorists
attacks timed to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11th
attacks on the United States. Information indicates that al Qaeda
cells have been established in several South Asian countries in order
to conduct car-bomb and other attacks on U.S. facilities. These cells
have been accumulating explosives since approximately January of 2002,
this year, in preparation for these attacks.

The U.S. intelligence community has also received information that
one or more individuals in the Middle East are preparing for a suicide
attack, or attacks, against U.S. interests. At this time, we have no
specific information as to where these attacks might occur.

The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that the most likely
attacks of al Qaeda attacks -- the most likely targets of al Qaeda
attacks are the transportation and energy sectors, and facilities or
gatherings that would be recognized worldwide as symbols of American
power or security. Examples of such symbols are U.S. military
facilities, U.S. embassies, and national monuments.

In addition, U.S. intelligence has concluded that lower-level al
Qaeda operatives may view the September 11th anniversary as a suitable
time to lash out in even small strikes, to demonstrate their worldwide
presence and resolve. Accordingly, widely dispersed, unsophisticated
strikes are possible, as well.

The specificity of some of the information and analysis has
contributed to the decision to close four U.S. embassies in Southeast
Asia, and to elevate our security at all overseas diplomatic and
military facilities. The increased threat level is based on specific
intelligence received and analyzed by the full intelligence community.
This information has been corroborated by multiple intelligence
sources.

Last year at this time, United States intelligence discerned
similar patterns of terrorist threat reporting overseas. In addition,
other recent events parallel terrorist activity that occurred in the
weeks prior to last year's attacks.

I want to emphasize that the recommendation made today was not made
to move to the highest level of alert, an action that would have been
triggered by specific credible intelligence and analysis pointing
toward an imminent attack on the United States homeland. At this time,
most intelligence focuses on possible attacks on U.S. interests
overseas.

As Attorney General, I have directed the Joint Terrorism Task
Forces nationwide -- there are joint terrorism task forces all across
America in the various FBI district offices -- I have directed that
they coordinate their local response with U.S. attorneys and local
antiterrorism task forces. In addition, I have directed that all
relevant information be shared the with Joint Terrorism Task Forces in
order for federal officials to work effectively and cooperatively with
state and local officials.

As we have been forced to do in the past, today we once again call
on the American people to remain alert, but defiant in the face of this
new threat. We are not -- we are not recommending that events be
cancelled, nor do we recommend that individuals change domestic travel
plans or that the federal work force not report to duty. We are not
making those recommendations. We ask that Americans, both at home and
abroad, mark the anniversary of last year's savage attacks with a
heightened awareness of their environment and the activities occurring
around them.

This call, which Americans have heard before, is based on specific
intelligence that heightened awareness and readiness deters terrorism.
Each of us has the ability to increase the security that we need --
security for ourselves, security for our families, and security for our
communities. Today we call on Americans to exercise this
responsibility with special care and vigilance.

Now Governor Ridge will discuss actions which will, and can be
taken in response to this new information.

Governor Tom Ridge.

GOVERNOR RIDGE: Thank you, General.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As the Attorney General has
announced, we are now at high risk of a terrorist attack. We now are
at Level Orange. This heightened threat level has been, or is being
communicated to local and state law enforcement, federal agencies,
members of Congress, governors, state homeland security advisors, and
representatives of the private sector.

The nation's Homeland Security Advisory System provides a national
framework to inform and facilitate decisions appropriate to different
levels of government and to private citizens, either in the workplace
or at home. The system couples the threat level with protective
measures that will be taken to reduce our country's vulnerabilities.
Specific protective measures will be taken by all federal agencies as a
result of the decision to raise the threat level, to reduce
vulnerabilities. All federal agencies have provided to the Office of
Homeland Security the protective measures that they have been prepared
to adapt to the threat advisory system by the end of August.

And included among some of those that these agencies will consider
taking in response to the elevation of the threat will be additional
security personnel at federal facilities. At the very least, we want
to ensure that security is more visible, as a part of deterring
terrorist activity. Given -- depending on the department and the
area they are attempting to secure, they may engage in increased
surveillance or counter-surveillance operations. They may make
adjustments as to the number of entry points into buildings, and if
there are strict security procedures associated with access, we're
going to encourage everyone to make sure that they enforce them to the
very letter of the law, no exceptions.

There may be some barriers erected to alter some of the traffic
flow. There may be more frequent inspections of people or cars
entering federal facilities. These are just some of the examples of
the extra steps that ought or will be taken by all federal agencies.
And I might add that in talking with several governors and homeland
security advisors prior -- just within the past half-hour, some states
and organizations, in response to the threat advisory system, had
already prepared different protective measures that they would embark
upon if we were to raise the level of threat. And we are assimilating
that information and getting it out to the governors and homeland
security advisors and local law enforcement.

At the same time we are taking these actions at the federal level,
governors, mayors, state and local enforcement, as well as private
sector managers of the nation's critical infrastructure, will be taking
action, as well. For individual Americans, every citizen, we know this
is a very sobering announcement. Just as federal, state, and local
officials are taking precautions, we certainly recommend and think
there are some common-sense measures that would enhance their security,
and just some common-sense precautionary things they should do, as
well.

I know we've called on them before, but the Attorney General, the
FBI Director, and I see on a fairly regular basis what happens with
citizen involvement when they are extra vigilant, extra careful, when
they become very alert to suspicious activity. We're going to call on
them to maintain that high level of awareness. As the Attorney General
said, be alert, but be defiant. Let's make sure that every individual
citizen who sees something suspicious reports it, to either the Joint
Terrorism Task Force or the local law enforcement.

Parents may want to have a communication plan and talk to their
children and their family about the significance of September 11th, and
about the possibility that those who would do us harm may choose that
date, or any time around the commemorative period to do us harm again.
We'd encourage employers and employees to know their own emergency
plans, to review them -- to talk to the governors and the homeland
security advisors, to put some of their facilities on alert, on call.
Again, there are a lot of very practical common-sense measures that we
will be encouraging, and basically giving some direction the states and
locals could take.

Now, beyond these very, very important steps, our advice to America
as we engage the local law enforcement, the state law enforcement, the
private sector, as we engage everyone who has critical responsibilities
to reduce vulnerabilities and protect our homeland, our advice to
America is to continue with your plans. If your travel is in your
plans, attendance at a public event is in your plans, we would like you
to proceed, to do as you had planned to do, but be wary and be mindful
that because of the specific information that we have, very consistent
with the pattern of intelligence activity that was detected prior to
9/11, that the recommendation was made to raise the level of alert.

I might add that I don't think America needs to be reminded that we
are at war. However, this announcement is a reminder that there are
people around the world who would do us harm. And our response is to
continue to be America, but to be alert, to be vigilant. We have
persevered through this, we'll persevere now, and ultimately we will
prevail.

Thank you.

Q General, is there any intelligence to suggest that these --
any attacks are planned domestically, or is the concern primarily
overseas?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: I would say that the most recent
intelligence which has prompted us to issue this change in our status
has focused primarily overseas. And, frankly, part of our
interpretation, or part of the analysis of that is that that's very
similar to the circumstances that existed a year ago.

Q It seems like, with the timing of this announcement, was there
new information that you came into knowledge of, or is this based on
just an analysis -- continuing analysis of information that's been
out there for some time?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, in a way the answer is, yes, new
information has fed into an analytic structure or is this based on just
an analysis, continuing analysis of information that's been out there?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: In a way, the answer is yes. New
information has fed into an analytic structure which has made us take
very seriously both the new information and the analysis, which leads
us to this conclusion. So information has become available very
recently, which, together with the analysis of the general
circumstances and the situation, leads us to make this change.

Q General, how likely do you think that there -- given the
significance of this day -- that there will be a terrorist attempt,
whether successful or not? Do you expect that something will happen
tomorrow?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, we really hope that by being
alert and by having elevated security, that we default the attempt of
any terrorist activities. The primary aspiration that we have is to
prevent terrorist attacks. And we believe that state and local law
enforcement, federal authorities, citizens of this nation working
together are the best effort we can make for prevention. So there is
an anomaly here -- that if we are most successful with this
announcement, we will prevent the attacks which might otherwise exist.
And we think that would be a wonderful outcome.

Q Some of the information from senior al Qaeda operatives which
you've operated on in the past and put out alerts have proven to be --
nothing's happened. And so the question has arisen whether or not
these al Qaeda operatives have the opportunity to sort of scare us or
jerk our chain. And obviously, you have to consider that in any case.
Is there something different this time?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, we believe this to be credible
information. And the analysis that has been undertaken by the
intelligence agencies leads us to conclude that the steps we are taking
are appropriate steps in the national interest.

Q General Ashcroft, you said this was from a senior al Qaeda
operative. Can you discuss who that person is, and give us any
indication of where they're being held and what kind of information
they've provided?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: No. Thank you.

Q General Ashcroft, you said you don't want to cancel events, or
-- people should go about their daily lives. Did you at all consider
looking at cancelling events? And what made you decide not to do
that? And how close did you come to the decision on maybe cancelling
some events?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, we believe that there is an
elevated risk, and we think the best way to help guard against that
risk becoming a reality is to share with the American people, and
particularly the law enforcement community of the United States and
those who have responsibility for defending our infrastructure, the
information that's appropriate in that risk, to prevent these
activities.

I don't believe that the analysis or the information leads us --
has led us at any time to consider the cancellation of events. If we
believed that was appropriate, we would not hesitate to do so.

Q General, how long do you expect this new elevated status to
continue?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: You know, if we had the ability to
define the times at which risks existed we would just define the time
as zero and not have them. That's just another way of saying the
assessment of the risk will define the duration of how much time we
assign this level of risk, in terms of public awareness.

And we'll constantly be reassessing and pursuing the leads that
come from the kind of information we've received, with a view toward
the evaluation of where we are and whether -- at what level the risks
exist. Obviously, we'd love to see events transpire in such a way as
to demonstrate a substantially reduced risk, but we're not at that
point yet.

Q You mentioned energy and transportation as two vulnerable
sectors. Can you be more specific, and why do you -- why those two
sectors?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, we no historically that
transportation has been a dramatic way in which the terrorist community
has sought to impose its will, as opposed to the values expressed in
the cultures of freedom. Whether you're talking about the
transportation -- public transportation of buses and car bombs in the
Middle East, or you're talking about the utilization of aircraft in the
United States, they're symbolic, they're high profile or those kinds of
things. And those things that relate to the success and survival of
our culture are things that are obvious targets.

I think if you care to supplement my answer there, I'd be happy to
have you do so. But that's what I could say in response to that
question.

GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think, first of all, there had been a heightened
sense of awareness that I think that was occurring within the private
sector, as well at the state and local level, just because of the
significance that this country places on the public events tomorrow.
And there had been several discussions about the importance of the
ceremonies tomorrow, as we remember, but also the possibility --
although not based on any credible information. Human instincts as
they are, I think most Americans concluded even in their own mind that
if you were thinking like a terrorist, then perhaps coming back again
over the same date might be something you'd want to do.

Now, we don't believe that they do anything other than operate when
they're ready. No particular symbolism -- no particular urgency
attached to a symbolic date. But when you attach the symbolic date
with the specific information that has been corroborated, coupled with
a similar pattern of activity almost a year ago, you put those three
things together, and you say, for the time being we've asked to raise
the level of emergency in this country.

We have continued to make improvements in the transportation
community, particularly with an eye toward aviation and for -- there
will be certain things that will be done we can't share with you
publicly with regard to aviation, but every air marshal available will
be available and flying over the next several days. It's just one of
the responses that we're going to undertake as we elevate the threat
level.

Q General Ashcroft, you mentioned car bombs. Is that pretty
much the worst-case scenario, or is there concern, particularly on this
day, of terrorist action that might have far greater destruction?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, I think we are very concerned
about a full range of terrorist activities. One of the characteristics
of the pre-9/11 period from a year ago was that there was a lot of
traffic, if you will, that related to conventional terrorist
activities, and yet, very shortly thereafter, or in the virtual same
time frame, dramatically new unheard-of activities were engaged in. So
we believe that we know from our intelligence activities that have been
well reported that the terrorist community has been very active in a
wide variety of terrorism potentials. And while car bombs are a very
significant part, car bombs, truck bombs, explosive devices, we also
know that the terrorist community has been interested, and al Qaeda in
specific, and their associates have been interested in a wide range of
terrorist devises.

Q (inaudible.)

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, I think they are well
understood. I don't mean to -- if I made any specification today, it
would not be for purposes of associating them with the elevated alert
today. But we have seen that the terrorist community has done research
in biological -- evil biology, evil chemistry, in the dispersion of
radiological contaminants and the like, and those have been the subject
of previous endeavors. And, frankly, when we elevate this alert, we
want to remain cognizant of the fact that we're dealing with a complex
capacity, with an organization of international reach, and while we
have improved our capacity to defend immeasurably, and while we have
impaired their capacity in some measure, we also realize that they
still have the capacity to operate.

Q If your concern is mainly U.S. targets overseas, by waiting
until the day before the anniversary are you not cutting it kind of
close in terms of the preparation that Americans overseas or U.S.
corporations or others overseas could be doing for the planning?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Well, I think I want you all to be
cognizant of what prompted this change, and I hope that we've made it
clear that this change is based on an analysis of intelligence that
-- some of which very recently became available -- which prompted us
to work rapidly to make this change. And we have seen rather prompt
response to this by our own State Department in its activities
regarding its embassies in various settings around the world. And
we'll do everything we can to give the American people, both at home
and abroad, a level of notice which will allow them to maximize their
capacity to make the adjustments that are appropriate and necessary.

Q When you say "recent," do you mean hours, do you mean days?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Yes. Thank you very much.

Q What? Which one?

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: In the last 24 hours we have had
additional information that's been very, very valuable to us, and
significant.